They always come up wit the "the reason I pulled you over was...broken taillight, swerving etc " excuse, but I just know for a fact they they follow people, especially young blacks and hispanics for a few blocks just waiting for the slightest little driving mistake so they can have an excuse to pull them over and search them. I hate it when they do that.
2007-01-20 12:11:32 · 11 answers · asked by AL IS ON VACATION AND HAS NO PIC 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I meant to type "that they" not "they they"
2007-01-20 12:13:03 · update #1
I couldn't agree more, the U.S. Judicial System is full of corrupt and prejudiced people. But if you really want to see something worse than them...try U.S. Border Inspection Agents...Terrible.
2007-01-20 12:17:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 11⤋
Following your rasict attempt, maybe because most of em are guilty.
Now lets get to the real answer: Probably Cause...
If they see someone that just looks suspicious, they dont have a right to pull em over and search, they cant usually do random stops and search and seizure.. however if they are heading in a direction or sitting watching traffic flow, they see a minor infraction, they can stop them and either give them a warning or a citation for the problem, or as alot of the people of all races do on that show, run for it, or attempt to allude or lie to the police, who can check alot of this out via their dispatch. Then it gets really suspicious or downright illegal (such as lying and evading) If the people remained cool, answered honestly and weren't doing anyhting wrong, usually they would get a $20 ticket for a bad taillight and released.
But if you see a 5 or 6 young males (no matter the race) in a vehicle in a high crime or gang area (no matter the affiliation) at times when these guys should be in bed (such as 2 am.) Then yeah, it might be possible someone might be a little more strict on the definition of swerving to stop em and give em a warning, to also see their reactions, if they are really scared, something might be going on.
You notice, no matter what the race, gender or age, most of the time they pull over someone even for broken taillights or swerving, they have done something else wrong.
It would make you think.
2007-01-20 20:33:17 · answer #2 · answered by TheHangedFrog 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So? if it is illegal to have a broken taillight then it is a legitimate stop. if they were swerving it was a legitimate stop. of course they follow people and wait for a driving mistake, that is what they do. I don't understand why this is a problem for you. When the majority of young black males and hispanics and young white females w/ 20 inch rims or the ______ (insert the latest "victim" here) stops breaking the law, then the police will stop following them. They do that because of statistics and experience. I am glad the officers follow those thugs, or those that look like thugs. At least it keeps them out of my neighborhood. when you grow up you will realize that you ARE what people percieve, don't look like a thug or thief or drug dealer and people won't think you are one.
2007-01-21 02:20:16 · answer #3 · answered by MissCan'tBeWrong 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A broken tail light, swerving, etc. are called "probable cause."
If you don't want to be pulled over, don't give the officer "probable cause."
In reality, I really don't have time to profile and follow a specific race or demographic around all night. I drive from call to call, and when I am not responding to calls for service, I am writing an arrest report or booking a suspect, evidence and property.
Besides, the area I work in is predominantly black. Good and bad people of the same color live in the same neighborhoods.
2007-01-20 20:22:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
A lot of people think that this happens. But to tell the truth, you do not know that this happens for a fact. You are just assuming this. You are not there with the officer on the show, so you do not get to see the unedited version of what really happened.
A lot of departments, and even states have started to madate this, make the officers record each traffic stop that they make. Then a supervisor pulls tapes randomly and watches the tapes to make sure that the officers are not doing what is called racial profiling.
With that in mind, it would have to take a whole department of racists people that like to pick on the minorities to get away with racial profiling like you are talking about.
Not trying to call you dumb or anything like that, but just letting you know that it is not that big of problem as you and a lot of the other people in society think it is.
You also have to look at those shows for what they really are. The majority of crime in this country is commited by people that are part of a minority group. Because the tv crew rides along with these officers in those big cities with high crime rates, of course you are going to see more blacks and hispanics getting arrested. You should see how many white people get pulled over and get ticketed, but they don't show that on the show because just getting pulled over and ticketed is not exciting and what the show is about. On that same note, I bet you there is the same amount of minorities that are getting pulled over and getting sent away with citations as there are white people. But like I said, they aren't showing that on tv cause it is not exciting.
2007-01-21 02:53:45 · answer #5 · answered by deftonehead778 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hahaha, that is classic that you think that. I have never seen that in my department, I am not saying that it doesn't happen. But for the most part, most of the areas that are patrolled on cops are predominately that race. I think people just read too much into it. Do you know how long it takes for them just to get that one skit, takes a while, not everyday is crazy like it makes it out to be. And for the most part, they are looking for JUVENILES that appear to be the type that may have narcotics or paraphernalia. I do it to, I will look for the types that COULD have drugs, and you then get that person, and 9 times out of 10 you get something.
2007-01-20 20:17:57 · answer #6 · answered by Matthew K 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am a lily white female US citizen, and have been subjected to the same tactics; twice in 2006, but many times before, too, by both male and female officers
It's a good reason to keep your tail lights and other systems in good working condition. It's just part of the game, and you should learn to play.
2007-01-20 20:26:10 · answer #7 · answered by Mary 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I know why, to quote a movie and I can't remember wich one and I do not mean to offend anyyone it is called "driving while black"
2007-01-20 21:37:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, based on statistics it is often those who break the law.
2007-01-20 21:22:51 · answer #9 · answered by Jimmy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was watching a show on E!...(I know, greatest source ever : ()
""There was speculation that maybe cops only pulled Diana Ross over because she was black..........or maybe it was the fact that she was f*cking pig-drunk.""
Dude, don't gimme that racist crap.
2007-01-20 20:16:23 · answer #10 · answered by Picard Facepalm 5 · 6⤊ 1⤋
that's because, typically it's blacks & mexicans that commit crimes..report me all you want, but it's the truth & everyone knows it..
2007-01-20 20:31:12 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋